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March is colorectal cancer awareness month

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

February 16, 2019

I’ve never had a colorectal cancer screening. Is a colonoscopy painful?

Gastroenterology specialist Dr. Daniel Zhang says colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States for both men and women.

“As many as two-thirds of those deaths might have been prevented,” he says. “Regular colorectal cancer screening tests beginning at age 50 can help detect and prevent the occurrence of this all-too-prevalent disease.”

Patients with a family history of colorectal cancer and certain inflammatory bowel diseases should start screening at a younger age.

“The key,” Dr. Zhang continues, “is catching the disease in the early stages when treatment is more effective and the chances for a cure are greater.”

While several screening techniques are available, Dr. Zhang says that colonoscopy is considered the “gold standard” of preventive screenings.

“It’s a safe, effective procedure that can help detect cancerous and precancerous growths in the early stages,” Dr. Zhang says.

Kelsey-Seybold has endoscopy suites – specially designed medical facilities dedicated to the screening, detection and removal of precancerous and cancerous abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract – at its Spring Medical and Diagnostic Center and Berthelsen Main Campus clinic locations.

“With regular screenings, colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable,” concludes Dr. Zhang.

Headshot of Daniel Siao Zhang, MD

About the Author

Dr. Daniel Zhang is a gastroenterologist at Kelsey-Seybold's North Houston Campus and Cypress Clinic. His clinical interests include colon cancer screening, reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel disease, and constipation
Dr. Adesina from Kelsey-Seybold Clinic

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